NWSL Post Olympic Roundup

The early exit by the U.S. WNT was a disappointment for the National Women’s Soccer League and the news was no better for the league as Germany won gold over Sweden in a match that featured no NWSL players.

But the fourth year league had to be heartened when Canada and its nine NWSL players topped Brazil and its three players league players 2-1 in the battle for the bronze.

Sinclair was once again the hero for Canada. (Getty Images)

Canadian legend Christine Sinclair scored what turned out to be the winning goal after the Northernmost North Americans opened a 2-0 lead. Canada’s youngest player, 17-year-old Deanne Rose gave Canada the lead and Sinclair made it a 2-0 lead when she scored her 165th international goal, behind only Abby Wambach’s 184 on the all-time international goals chart.

The Portland Thorns veteran celebrated her 250th cap with that goal and by winning her and her nation’s second consecutive bronze medal.

NWSL resumed play on Thursday with a rescheduled match between the Houston Dash and the Washington Spirit at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. The visitors came away with the points in a 2-1 win, buoyed no doubt by the presence of U.S. Olympian Ali Krieger.

Krieger was the only Olympian to make an appearance for either team, with Houston’s seven and the Spirit’s remaining four Olympians choosing to take a little extra recovery time.

That group included five of the bronze medal winning Canadians and two Brazilians as well as U.S. stars Carli Lloyd and Morgan Brian of Houston and Krieger’s Spirit teammate Crystal Dunn.

With a full slate of NWSL games coming up this weekend, beginning with Friday’s matchup between the Spirit and the Orlando Pride in Orlando, the bulk of the internationals will be expected back in action.